Summary
- WWE 2K25 almost made Samoan wrestlers immune to headbutts.
- A common running gag in WWE is for a wrestler to try and headbutt their Samoan opponent, only for the latter to brush it off.
- The idea was scrapped, however, likely due to balancing issues.
In keeping with a time-honored wrestling tradition, WWE 2K25 almost made its Samoan wrestlers immune to the common headbutt. WWE 2K25 will be centered around the Bloodline, with its 2K Showcase mode allowing fans to recreate and even rewrite famous matches featuring Roman Reigns, The Rock, Rikishi, the Headshrinkers, and many other members of the legendary Anoaʻi wrestling family.
These famed Samoan wrestlers are among some of the toughest competitors in WWE history, as evidenced by WWE 2K25 cover star Roman Reigns’s nearly four-year run as the WWE Undisputed Champion and Jey Uso’s surprising victory at the 2025 Men’s Royale Rumble earlier in February. Facing off against one of them is already a challenging endeavor, and one move in particular has often proven to be ineffective against a Samoan wrestler in WWE: a simple headbutt. A common running gag in WWE is for a wrestler to try and headbutt their Samoan opponent, only for the latter to brush it off before unleashing some punishment of their own.
WWE 2K25 Roster is Missing Major New Star
The upcoming WWE 2K25's roster is missing one of the company's major new stars.
In light of WWE 2K25’s focus on the Bloodline, Visual Concepts developer Bryan Williams revealed that the latest WWE game almost recreated this. While speaking with Fightful, Williams noted that his team considered making Samoan wrestlers like Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu immune to headbutts, citing a match between Jey Uso and Drew McIntyre, but ultimately decided against it. He didn’t give a reason why, but it was likely due to balancing issues and trying to avoid a situation in which players would exploit this immunity to headbutts against online opponents.
WWE 2K25 Almost Recreated a Classic Samoan Move
Sure enough, WWE 2K25 will have a stronger online component in The Island, a free-roaming multiplayer mode similar to NBA 2K’s The City where players can explore a tropical setting themed after WWE Superstars like the Bloodline and its various members. WWE 2K25 is also bringing back some offline features from past installments, like chain wrestling and the ability to play intergender matches.
WWE 2K25’s Samoan-centric Showcase is also being refined by doing away with the controversial Slingshot feature from the previous three WWE 2K games and including alternate scenarios to certain historical match-ups, like Roman Reigns’s final title defense against Cody Rhodes at last year’s WrestleMania 40. Gamers will get to play through these matches and try to dominate as the Bloodline and other superstars of the squared circle when WWE 2K25 launches across all current platforms on March 14.
WWE 2K25
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- March 14, 2025
- ESRB
- Teen // Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Visual Concepts
- Publisher(s)
- 2K Sports
WHERE TO PLAY
Celebrate The Bloodline in Showcase. Compete online in MyGM. Expanded gameplay includes intergender wrestling, chain wrestling, barricade diving, the return of Promos + much more!
A ROSTER FOR THE AGES
WWE 2K25 brings you an unparalleled lineup of current Superstars, Legends and Hall of Famers. The 300+ stacked roster spans multiple generations and features Seth "Freakin" Rollins, Undertaker, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Jade Cargill, and more.
2K SHOWCASE: THE BLOODLINE'S DYNASTY
The all-new Showcase, hosted by “The Wiseman” Paul Heyman, celebrates one of the most historic family dynasties in wrestling. Relive legendary showdowns or dream matches between The Bloodline and WWE Superstars and Legends.
A UNIFIED MyRISE
Your Superstar takes center stage in an all-new intergender storyline with new brawl environments, unlockable arenas, characters, objects and more.
MyGM GOES WORLDWIDE
Take your show on the road with MyGM 4-player online multiplayer! Draft WWE Superstars and Legends to your show’s roster and lead your brand through multi-week seasons.
YOUR UNIVERSE, YOUR WAY
New upgrades give greater control over your Universe experience. Promos are back with multiple types and outcomes featuring new cutscenes and branching choices.
EXPANDED GAMEPLAY
Intergender wrestling makes its long-awaited debut in the WWE 2K franchise! Additional features include the return of chain wrestling, the Underground and Bloodline Rules match types, barricade diving, plus much more.
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Multiplayer, Local Co-Op
- Prequel(s)
- WWE 2K24
- Franchise
- WWE 2K
- Number of Players
- 1-8
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- March 14, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- March 14, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- March 14, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- Wrestling, Sports
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- Local Co-Op Support
- Yes
